Lighting fixture diffuser assembly



June 11, 1968 s. AUERBACH LIGHTING FIXTURE DIFFUSER ASSEMBLY Filed July 27, 1966 INVENTOR 5E rMaa/e afe c' BY MM United States Patent O 3,388,248 LIGHTING FXTURE DFFUSER ASSEMBLY Seymour Auerbach, 115 Hesketh St., Chevy chase, Ma. 2001s Filed July 2.7, 1966, Ser. No. 568,236 13 Claims. (Cl. 24S- 78) ABSTRACT OF THE DSCLGSURE The device, while physically independent of the existing lighting fixture, dresses or updates the existing lighting fixture. The device includes a support annulus, structure for attaching the support annulus to the ceiling or Wall surrounding the existing fixture, a diffuser (commonly called a globe or shade) and cooperative structure on the support annulus and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support annulus so that the diffuser circumferentially surrounds and/ or envelops the existing lighting fixture.

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to an adherently attachable fixture for surrounding naked-bulbs or other out-of-date lighting installations in order to make such installations more attractive while not going to great expense or tampering in any way with electrical service to such installations.

In the remo-deling or updating of existing houses, offices, stores and apartments which have rather old and presently unfashionable lighting fixtures such as naked-bulbs in white ceramic sockets and bulbs exposed to view through long-broken and now unreplaceable globes, it has been the practice to either replace the entire fixture or to attach a new diffuser or shade directly onto the naked-bulb or onto the base of the old fixture. Such remodeling and renewing is often done by building owners and occupants in order to make them more tenantable or under the aegis of governmental bodies in an effort to revitalize urban dwellings without causing such severe dislocation of the community as may happen when urban dwellings are torn down and new buildings built. ln such revitalization projects, in order to keep the rental of the renewed dwellings within the means of those who lived in them prior to revitalization, it is of the utmost necessity that dramatic results be achievable at a low cost.

In many instances replacement of the entire lighting fixture is economically unfeasible because of the expensiveness of complete fixtures and because local ordinances often require that only licensed electricians make installations which require tampering with existing wiring or inanipulation of the fixture. Electricians, because of their skill and short supply, are often more expensive to employ than other workers in the construction trades.

Devices which attach directly to the existing bulb or fixture may be susceptible to heat damage, often require the use of a particular size or shape bulb or can only be used where the attachment feature of the new diffuser has substantially the same diameter and fastening means placement as the old diffuser. These limitations and the intricacy involved in matching new diffusers with different sized .fixture bases makes devices which attach to bulbs or old fixture bases unacceptable in many instances.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide means, physically independent of the existing lighting fixture, for remodeling or updating the appearance of the existing lighting fixture and including: a support annulus, means for adhcsively securing the support annulus to the ceiling or wall surrounding the existing fixture, a diffuser (commonly called a globe or shade) and cooperative means on the support annulus and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support annulus 3,388,248 Patented June 1l, 1968 so the diffuser circumferentially surrounds and/or envelops the existing lighting fixture.

A more general object of the invention is the provision of improved lighting fixture revitalizing assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture; which is simple to install, even by those having no special skills, and which does not require tampering with existing electrical wiring or with the existing lighting fixture, or bulb and socket members.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a lighting fixture revitalizing assembly which includes means for easily insuring centering of the support ring about the existing lighting fixture regardless of the diameter of the base ofthe existing lighting fixture.

These and further objects of the present invention as well as the principles and more of the scope of usefulness thereof will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following discussion which is keyed from time to time to the embodiment shown in the attached drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is an elevation view, partly in vertical section of an existing naked-bulb lighting fixture surrounded by a diffuser assembly according to the present invention;

FGURE 2 is a perspective view, from below, of the diffuser support annulus of FIGURE l, shown adhered to a ceiling which surrounds and is centered by novel centering means with respect thereto, the base of the lighting fixture, shown as a conventional ceramic light bulb socket;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, from above, of the diffuser of FIGURE l.

In FIGURE 1, the lighting fixture 1() is shown comprising a bare light bulb 12 threadably received in a socket or base 14 of ceramic material with conventional internal electrical contact pants (not shown) connected to building Wiring 16 through the ceiling 18.

Circumferentially vat the base 14 of the existing lighting fixture i10, and radially spaced therefrom, a diffuser support annulus 20 according to the present invention is shown secured -to the ceiling 18 lower surface 22 by adhesive means 24 which may be applied to the annulus 20 upper surface 26, the ceiling lower surface 22 or both. In one presently preferred form of the invention a contact cement 24 is applied to the annulus upper surface 26 and protected before use by a removable plasticized paper strip (not shown). When -the substantially planar annulus 20 is to be adhered to a ceiling 18, the paper strip is peeled from the adhesive and the annulus, with the adhesive side up, is pressed against the ceiling.

In order to ensure that the new diffuser will be centered about the existing fixture 16, the annulus 20 is provided with a plurality of substantially identical, radially inwardly directed, angularly spaced spokes or fingers 28, three being shown. Each of the fingers 28 has a series of transverse score lines 30, like score lines on the several fingers 28 describing short segments of circles of particular diameters. If the base of the fixture to be surrounded is of greater diameter than the finger tip circle, the tip of each finger is severed at a score line which will cause the tips of the truncated fingers lto describe a circle which is of at least slightly greater diameter than the fixture base. The diffuser support annulus is then positioned against the' ceiling surrounding the fixture base. The annulus being adjusted by eye until the truncated finger tips each have the same short space between it and the periphery of the fixture base, then adhered in place. Experience has shown that it is much easier for the installer to centralize the annulus 20 with fingers 28, when the gap to be averaged is on the order of 1/16 to 1/2 inch, than it is to centralize an annulus not having fingers 28 and wherein the gap to be averaged is on the order of 2-5 inches or more.

It should now be noticed that the lower surface 32 of the annulus 20 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced, cooperative securement members, such as depending button fasteners 34 by which a diffuser 36 is removably securable to the diffuser support annulus 20.

A diffuser or shade-like member 36 exemplified in FIGURES 1 and 3 includes an upper, annular flange 38 provided with a plurality of angularly spaced cooperative securement members, such as key slots 4f) placed so that the button fasteners 34 can be insented in the large ends 42 of the key slots and the diffuser rotated a few degrees to lock the button fasteners 34 in the small ends 44 of the key slots. Removal of the diffuser 36, for instance to change a burned-out bulb comprises a reversal of these steps.

The diffuser 36 also includes a globe or shade portion 46 which circumferentially depends from the periphery of the fiange 38 and may include a disk-shaped lower wall 48 at the lower extent of the portion 46 if envelopment of the old fixture is to be provided.

Obviously, when an existing fixture has a broken or outdated globe, the old globe can be removed from the existing fixture before the diffuser 36 is put in place.

It should be comprehended that a wide range of materials could be used to fabricate rthe diffuser support annulus 20 and the diffuser 36 and that the two need not be made of the same material. Quite acceptable, inexpensive members 20, 36 can be made of conventional plastic materials, formed by conventional techniques such as injeotion molding, thermo-forming and blow molding and care being taken to choose materials which will not be deleteriously affected by the heat produced while the light is on. The relevant physical characteristics of conventional plastic materials and data on the amount of heat produced by bulbs of various wattage are widely available in technical handbooks. Glass, metal or other materials may, of course, be used in the construction of either the annulus or the diffuser.

The particular fasteners 34, 40 should be understood as exemplary since the location of the two can be reversed or one or both fasteners replaced by other fastening means such as cooperative circumferential threading, Velcro strips, or flexible interdigitable thermoplastic members, to name but a few.

Although the existing fixture is shown as a ceiling mounted fixture, the present invention can be used to surround or envelop sidewall-mounted existing lighting fixtures. The term wall is used herein as generic to ceilings and sidewalls,

Neither the diffuser support annulus nor the diffuser need be circular, but can be of polygonal or other noncircular shape such as elliptical, without departing from the invention or failing to work porperly. And, of course fthe annulus need not be continuous. Independent parts may be adhered or attached to the wall to receive attachment of the diffuser elements, but, it will be appreciated, when in place the same would substantially constitute an annulus and intended to be encompassed by the use of such word herein. It should be noted that in the diffuser assembly according to the present invention, as best shown in FIGURE l, the diffuser support annulus is quite thin compared 4to the diffuser 36, so thin as to be characterizable as a strip or sheet, these latter terms being used as equivalents. When the diffuser 36 is in place, as shown in FIGURE l, the diffuser support annulus 2) is substantially covered and hidden from view exteriorly of the diffuser assembly.

Additionally, of course, the device of this invention is not confined to use with existing lighting fixtures, being of equal advantage in use with new installations, or in installations wherein it may be desired to change the mood or style of a lighting diffuser or shade from time to time.

It should therefore now be appreciated that the foregoing-described assembly for providing a readily attachable diffuser or shade for lighting fixtures, as described herein, is susceptible of inexpensive manufacture and easy installation and of otherwise accomplishing all of the objects set forth at the outset of this specification.

Because the embodiment shown can thus be considerably modified, yet accomplish the objects of the invention without departing from the principles thereof, the present invention should be understood as encompassing all such modifications as are within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A diffuser assembly for circumferentially surrounding or enveloping a lighting fixture mounted against a fiat surface, comprising: a diffuser support annulus attachable to the surface circumferentially about and independently of the lighting fixture; a diffuser, cooperative securement means on the diffuser support annulus and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support annulus for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relationship with the lighting fixture; said diffuser support annulus including a plurality of substantially equiangularly spaced, radially inwardly directed centralizer lingers; said fingers having indicia means thereon for facilitating removal of equal-length segments from each finger whereby said diffuser support annulus may be centralized about lighting fixtures having bases of differing diameter.

2. The diffuser assembly of claim 1 wherein the cooperative securement means comprises a plurality of angularly spaced button fasteners on one of said diffuser suppont annulus and diffuser and a plurality of angularly spaced key slots on the other of said diffuser support annulus and diffuser, the button fasteners being removably receivable in respective of said key slots.

3. The diffuser assembly of claim 2 wherein said diffuser includes a radial flange and a shade integrally depending axially from the periphery of the fiange, said cooperative securement means being located on said fiange.

4. The diffuser assembly of claim 1 further including adhesive material securable to one face of said diffuser support annulus, said one face being presentable toward and against the surface to secure the diffuser support annulus to the surface.

5. A diffuser assembly perimetrically surrounding or enveloping a lighting fixture mounted against a fiat surface, comprising: a diffuser support member having an opening therethrough and attachable to the surface perimetrically about and independently of said lighting fixture; a diffuser, cooperative securement means on the diffuser support member and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support member for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relationship about said lighting fixture; said diffuser when secured to said diffuser support member substantially covering said diffuser support member and hiding the latter from View exteriorly of the diffuser assembly,

6. The diffuser assembly of claim 5 further including adhesive material securable to one face of said diffuser support member, said one face being presentable toward and against 'the surface to secure the diffuser support member to the surface.

7. A diffuser assembly according to claim S in combination with a lighting fixture mounting a source of light, said support member lying between the surface and a plane extending in spaced parallel relation to the surface and through said source of light.

S. A diffuser assembly according to claim 5 wherein said support member comprises an annulus formed of a plastic material.

9. A diffuser assembly for perimetrically surrounding or enveloping a lighting fixture mounted against a fiat surface, comprising: a diffuser support including a member having an opening therethrough and attachable to the surface in spaced perimetrical relation about and independently of the lighting fixture; a diffuser, cooperative securement means on the diffuser support member and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support member for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relationship about the lighting fixture; and said diffuser support member consisting essentially of a thin strip of material mounting a portion of said cooperative securement means thereon.

10. The diffuser assembly of claim 9 wherein said diffuser includes a peripheral axially extending sidewall having integral, radially inwardly directed flange means at one end thereof, said cooperative securement means of said diffuser being on the flange means; said flange means, when said diffuser is secured to said diffuser support member, lying adjacent said diffuser support member and hiding at least a substantial portion of the exterior of the diffuser support member from View exteriorly of the diffuser assembly.

11. A light fixture assembly comprising a light fixture mounted on a flat surface and projecting outwardly from said surface, a light source carried by said light fixture, a support member having an opening therethrough and attachable to the flat surface perimetrically about and independently of said lighting fixture, said support member lying between the surface and a plane extending in spaced parallel relation to the surface and through said source of light, a diffuser having an open end portion, cooperative securement means on said support member and the open end portion of said diffuser for removably securing said diffuser to said support member for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relationship about said light source.

12. A diffuser assembly for perimetrically surrounding or enveloping a lighting fixture mounted against a flat surface, comprising: a diffuser support member having an opening therethrough and attachable to the surface perimetrically about and independently of the lighting fixture; a diffuser, cooperative securement means on the diffuser support member and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support member for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relationship with the lighting fixture; said diffuser support member including a plurality of inwardly directed centralizer fingers; said fingers having indicia means thereon for facilitating removal of segments from each finger whereby said diffuser support member may be centralized about lighting fixtures having bases of differing diameter.

13. The diffuser assembly according to claim 12 wherein said cooperative securement means includes means responsive to the rotation of said diffuser relative to said support member to secure said diffuser to said support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 1943 McLaughlin 240-128 4/1966 Nanny 240--128 

